If you’re looking for a way to get rid of smelly shoes, essential oils might be the perfect solution. They are natural and very effective. In this article, we have listed the 11 best essential oils that can help you get rid of any unpleasant shoe odor.
We found these essential oils to be excellent for treating stinky shoes. We evaluated essential oils based on the following parameters –
- Fragrance strength
- Fragrance longevity
- Reaction to odors
- Costs
Cardamom Essential Oil
Cardamom essential oil is colorless in appearance and darkens when exposed to direct sunlight. This oil has a strong distinctively warm, spicy fragrance just like cardamom. However, the fragrance does not irritate the nose when compared with other strong-smelling essential oils.
The cardamom essential oil took about 2 hours to completely remove the foul smell after application. The fragrance lasted for almost 48 hours. However, it may not be suitable for office or social environments as the strong spicy fragrance can irritate people.
Cardamom oil is expensive, costing $24.95 for a 0.33 Fl Oz bottle on amazon.com.
Clove Bud Essential Oil
Clove bud essential oil is brownish to colorless in appearance and has a strong spicy and tangy fragrance that resembles cloves. However, the aroma does not irritate the nose.
The fragrance lasts up to 24 hours. The essential oil was effective at removing the shoe odor within an hour. Clove bud oil is not suitable for office and social environments.
Clove bud oil costs $8.95 for a 0.33 Fl Oz bottle on amazon.com.
Eucalyptus Globulus Essential Oil
Eucalyptus globulus essential oil is colorless in appearance and has a very strong medicinal, woody, and earthy fragrance. This oil is intense and can irritate people with sensitive noses.
Eucalyptus globulus essential oil was very effective at eliminating the shoe odor within an hour of its application. The fragrance lasted for about 10 hours before fading away completely.
However, the strong earthy fragrance may not be suitable for work or social environments.
Eucalyptus globulus oil costs $7.95 for a 0.33 Fl Oz bottle on amazon.com.
Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea tree essential oil is pale yellow in color and has a very strong camphor-like fragrance. The essential oil eliminated the shoe odor completely within an hour. The camphor-like aroma lasted for about 8 hours before fading away completely.
Tea tree essential oil is not suitable if you are looking for a subtle smell or for use in an office environment.
Tea tree oil costs $7.95 for a 0.33 Fl Oz bottle on amazon.com.
Sweet Marjoram Essential Oil
Sweet marjoram essential oil is pale yellow in color and has a very strong warm, spicy and herbaceous fragrance. The fragrance can irritate sensitive noses and should be kept away from children and pets.
Sweet marjoram essential oil was highly successful at removing the unpleasant odor within an hour of application. The fragrance persisted for almost 8 hours before entirely dissipating. However, it is not suitable for office or social environments.
Sweet marjoram oil costs $9.95 for a 0.33 Fl Oz bottle on amazon.com.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint essential oil is clear, pale yellow to green in color, and has a cool refreshing scent of menthol. Peppermint essential oil is very intense and far more concentrated than most other essential oils.
The fragrance remains for up to 6 hours after use. Peppermint oil effectively removed the unwanted odor within one hour.
However, the strong menthol fragrance isn’t ideal for office and social environments given that it can irritate people with a sensitive sense of smell.
Peppermint oil costs $7.49 for a 0.33 Fl Oz bottle on amazon.com.
Lemon Essential Oil
Lemon essential oil is colorless to pale yellow in appearance and has a fresh citrusy smell similar to the fruit it derives from. The fragrance lasts for up to 5 hours when used in shoes. This oil was effective at eliminating the unwanted odor within 2 hours.
The mild fresh citrusy fragrance makes it suitable for any type of environment. This essential oil can also be used to treat smelly feet.
Lemon oil costs $7.95 for a 0.33 Fl Oz bottle on amazon.com.
Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender essential oil is colorless to pale yellow having a floral, herbal, and evergreen woodsy fragrance. The fragrance is not long-lasting, however, it does last for about 3 to 4 hours. The lavender essential oil eliminated the unpleasant odor entirely within 3 hours.
The lavender essential oil has a very subtle and delicate scent suitable for all environments.
Lavender oil costs $6.95 for a 0.33 Fl Oz bottle on amazon.com.
Rosemary Essential Oil
Rosemary essential oil is colorless to pale greenish in appearance and has an energizing herbaceous aroma. The fragrance is not strong which makes it suitable for use around children and pets.
The fragrance does not remain long, but it does last for around 2 hours. The rosemary oil took 5 hours to fully eliminate the shoe odor after application.
Rosemary oil costs $6.95 for a 0.33 Fl Oz bottle on amazon.com.
Himalayan Cedarwood Essential Oil
Himalayan cedarwood essential oil is golden yellow to light brown in color and has a warm, woody aroma with hints of camphoraceous essence. The fragrance is not intense and is suitable for use around children and pets.
Himalayan cedarwood oil did not work very well to counter the shoe odor. Also, the fragrance lasted only for 2 hours before it faded away.
Himalayan cedarwood oil costs $8.95 for a 0.33 Fl Oz bottle on amazon.com.
Green Mandarin Essential Oil
Green mandarin essential oil is pale orangeish in color and has a very fresh, slightly bitter citrusy smell that resembles that of oranges. The fragrance is not overpowering and is well suited to social surroundings.
The green mandarin essential oil was not effective at eliminating shoe odor completely. The fragrance also faded away within 2 hours post-application.
Green mandarin oil costs $7.95 for a 0.33 Fl Oz bottle on amazon.com.
The Bottom Line
Essential oils are a great way to remove unpleasant odors from shoes. Your choice of oil depends on the intended effect and the environment.
For example, if social interaction or office work is involved, spice-based essential oils such as cardamom and clove bud essential oils may not be suitable. These oils have a more intense smell that can irritate people with sensitive noses.
On the other hand, If eliminating odor quickly is a priority then essential oils like eucalyptus globulus or tress essential oil are the best choice. These essential oils have a strong fragrance that can neutralize bad shoe odors within an hour of application.
Lastly, if you are looking for a subtle fragrance then lavender or lemon oil may be your go-to option. They have a very pleasant fragrance that lasts for several hours.
We hope that this list of essential oils will help you find the perfect solution for your stinky shoes.
